The Digital Transformation Declaration of Independence
In the US, we celebrate our independence every July 4. While this is not a recognized holiday in most parts of the world, it is worth striving for independence in certain facets of business and digital transformation. The ERP software and digital transformation industries have long been ruled by incumbents that we should be striving […]
Managing Stress During ERP Implementation
Pretty much anyone who speaks of their past experiences with an ERP implementation jokes about hair loss, weight gain, insomnia, irritability, etc. Essentially, it STRESSED THEM OUT. In fact, this is a key finding from our 2019 ERP Report. My question is, why do we let this happen? We’re not going to answer this question […]
How to Plan for a NetSuite implementation
Are you planning on a NetSuite implementation for your business? Are you concerned about the planning process? The good news is that you’re not alone in that regard, many organizations today tend to be unsure about their implementation process and how to successfully integrate NetSuite into their business. As statistics go an estimated 60% of […]
When is it Time for an ERP Software Replacement?
ERP systems are an inherently difficult thing to handle, as they not only track financial activity in a company, but they also handle resource management and a plethora of other tasks as well. That’s why many organizations spend a long time picking an ERP system that works for them, because if you choose the wrong […]
Big ERP Systems Integrators Exposed
Disclaimer: This article contains quotes from multiple sources, which we have not cited for confidentiality purposes. Third Stage Consulting is an independent, technology-agnostic firm that is not affiliated with any of the ERP software vendors or systems integrators mentioned in this article. After the French Revolutions in the 1800s, a famous French writer once wrote: […]
ERP Vendor Negotiations: Can You Negotiate Too Hard?
While not common, we have seen situations where companies implementing ERP software press a little too much. Generally, ERP vendors will walk away when the terms fall out of their favor, but there are times when they may enter into an agreement that they are not fully comfortable with. When negotiating, there are two things […]
Should John Elway Implement ERP Software or Coach Football?
The obvious answer is certainly football, but the real answer may be neither. Similar to hiring an ERP system implementer where there is an urge to go for the big name, call it Accenture, Deloitte, Capgemini, etc., you may be better off with a second or third tier football coach. Before hiring John to coach […]
Lessons from 1,000 HCM Implementations
Over the last 20 years, I have had the good fortune of being involved with over 1,000 different HCM implementations. My role varied from being a project manager, program manager, expert witness, executive steering committee member, organizational change lead, business process lead, project recovery consultant, third party oversight consultant, and a host of other roles. […]
Creating the Perfect RFP for an ERP Software Evaluation
Years ago, selection and advisory firms would push the importance of documenting an ERP Request for Proposal (RFP) when completing a software selection. In recent years, however, many organizations have moved away from formalizing this process. The reasons for this are many, specifically that software vendors have nearly perfected the art of manipulating these documents. […]
Determining Your ERP Total Cost of Ownership
One of the first questions we are asked when discussing an ERP initiative with a new client is “how much is this whole thing going to cost us.” The easy and accurate answer is: “we have no idea at this time.” Unfortunately, executive committees and board members generally won’t accept this answer and need to […]
Organizational Change Management Is Dead
I have been afraid to admit this, but I think I have known it for a while: organizational change management is dead. This is particularly hard to admit since I grew up in the consulting world as an organizational change management consultant. After 20 years of doing something I love, it is becoming painfully clear […]
Five Things That are Obsolete in the ERP Software Industry
The other day, we posted our top ERP predictions for 2019. While this provides a good look into where the industry is headed, it is also important to understand the things that are obsolete in the ERP software industry. While there are a large number to choose from, here are a handful to be particularly […]